I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 231 Exile of Ji Yunze

"Why not move these surrendered soldiers to Qizhou in batches, and let them go to sea to atone for their crimes and fight against pirates?" Tao Anran suggested.

Upon hearing this, Fu Mingchi and the Duke of Ningguo exchanged a smile.

“That’s really a good idea,” Duke Ningguo nodded in approval. “The pirates have been harassing Daye for decades and have been a constant problem for us. Why don’t we let them experience what it’s like to be plundered this time?”

A person instantly came to Fu Mingchi's mind.

Having heard that Ji Yunze led the Qizhou army into Lin'an and made considerable contributions, I really don't know how to deal with him if he has any ill intentions towards Wan'er.

"Manager Tao truly lives up to the Crown Princess's high regard for him."

Fu Mingchi immediately wrote a memorial and handed it to Tao Anran: "Sima Ji has made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion in Lin'an this time. I intend to recommend him as the General Who Pacifies the South and order him to lead troops out to sea to suppress the pirates and raise funds for the Northern Expedition of our Ye Army."

"Huh?" Tao Anran was stunned. "Your Highness, isn't this task a bit too difficult? Leading 400,000 surrendered soldiers out to sea is already difficult enough, but we also have to raise provisions and pay. I'm afraid Commander Ji will have a hard time handling it."

Fu Mingchi deliberately sighed: "Manager Tao came to Jiayuguan and saw the hardships that I and the soldiers are going through. The pirates have always been wealthy. As long as he can find the pirates' lair, feeding hundreds of thousands of people will not be a problem."

Seeing that the Crown Prince was deliberately making things difficult for Ji Yunze, Tao Anran had no choice but to comply and agree: "This humble subject will certainly report the truth when I return."

He then recounted to Fu Mingchi the recent events that had occurred in Lin'an.

Upon learning that Wan'er was pregnant, Fu Mingchi wished he could rush back to Lin'an immediately.

"Grandpa, your grandson is going to be a father!" Fu Mingchi looked at the Duke of Ningguo with barely concealed excitement.

The Duke of Ningguo was overjoyed and tears welled up in his eyes: "The Yongning Prince's Mansion finally has an heir."

Thinking that his daughter was now the only one in Lin'an to deal with the situation, the Duke of Ningguo immediately said, "Anran, go back and send a message for me, asking someone to bring the old lady to Lin'an to help take care of the Crown Princess."

"Yes, I have noted it down," Tao Anran replied respectfully.

The Duke of Ningguo and his wife have been working tirelessly for their grandson's marriage and the continuation of the family line over the years. Now that their grandson's wife is pregnant, he is both happy and anxious, fearing that his daughter might not be able to take care of her and that something might go wrong.

Looking at Tao Anran, he urged her urgently, "Anran, I won't keep you any longer. You must hurry back and bring the old lady to Lin'an as soon as possible. The wet nurses and nannies in our Duke's mansion are experienced in taking care of pregnant women. With them around, my grandson can feel more at ease."

Tao Anran responded again and was about to leave when Fu Mingchi suddenly called him back.

"Wait a minute."

Fu Mingchi slowly walked up to him and asked with a half-smile, "Manager Tao, did Wan'er ask you to pass on any message?"

Tao Anran didn't know why he suddenly asked this question, and hesitantly shook his head: "Your Highness, my master only asked me to transport the grain to Jiayuguan as soon as possible, and he has no other requests."

Upon hearing this, Fu Mingchi's face darkened, clearly indicating his displeasure.

"Yan Jin, send an urgent message back to Lin'an immediately and have Commander Ji come to Jiayuguan to begin the process of settling the prisoners of war."

Fu Mingchi solemnly instructed, "If he dares to linger in Lin'an any longer, you shall petition His Majesty on my behalf to impeach him for his previous crimes and have him executed by slow slicing on the spot."

Tao Anran was taken aback.

Why is His Highness asking about the young master's affairs, and now he's suddenly going to investigate Young Master Ji's crimes? Just as I was at a loss, Fu Mingchi left the tent with a dark face.

Yan Jin didn't dare to linger and quickly went out to take care of her business.

Seeing Tao Anran's bewildered expression, the Duke of Ningguo understood his grandson's thoughts and smiled calmly at him: "Anran, wait a moment. I have something for you to take back and give to my granddaughter-in-law."

After saying that, he quickly left the tent and returned shortly afterward carrying a box.

"Give this to Wanwan."

The Duke of Ningguo did not reveal what was inside the box, but mysteriously handed it to Tao Anran.

After bidding farewell to the Duke of Ningguo, Tao Anran followed Yan Jin back to Lin'an.

With the defeat of Helian Jiu and the Daqiu cavalry, Lin'an City returned to peace.

Emperor Zhaolie ordered the Eastern Palace to be redecorated, but neither Ye Wanshu nor Consort Zhang wanted to move in.

Having been away from the Ji family for many years, Ye Wanshu finally managed to resolve the rift with her sisters in the manor. Before Fu Mingchi returned from his campaign, Ye Wanshu decided to stay at the manor for a while longer and take care of Xiao Chulin.

However, now that her belly is starting to show, Emperor Zhaolie and Consort Zhang forbid her from moving around, and her daily activities are limited to the entire Ji family compound.

The child in her womb had long been the focus of attention for various forces. The palace maids chosen by the emperor, Consort Zhang, were not at ease, so she personally sent many old men from Yuezhou to the Ji family. She even brought Fu Yunni to stay at the Ji family home almost every day, practically following her every step of the way.

Despite the affection, Ye Wanshu also felt immense pressure.

Fortunately, Chu Yin was by her side, and she would think of ways to comfort her every day.

"Actually, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are just hoping to see a new bloodline born to a member of the imperial family as soon as possible. They don't really care whether the baby in your womb is a boy or a girl."

In the finally quiet Mu Cang Zhai, Chu Yin held Qi Shuangshuang and said seriously, "What if she is a little princess? Wouldn't His Majesty and the Dowager Consort cherish her just the same?"

Ye Wanshu naturally believed this, but seeing Emperor Zhaolie's eager look every day, she still hoped to give birth to a baby boy so that he could live out his old age in peace.

After all, the old emperor's life was indeed not easy. He experienced so many twists and turns, and his only wish was to see the reconquest of the northern border and the emergence of a new ruler in the future.

In this second life, she went from being a princess she picked up to being crowned a princess, and then fighting alongside the old emperor. It was truly a deep connection. He treated her like a daughter, and she treated him like the most respected elder.

Therefore, the wishes of the elderly should never be disappointed.

Pinch Qi Shuangshuang's little cheek and ask with a smile, "Shuangshuang, do you want Auntie to give you a little brother or a little sister?"

Qi Shuangshuang thought for a moment and said, "Shuangshuang wants them all."

Extending her chubby little hand, Qi Shuangshuang gently stroked her lower abdomen: "Mother said that when she was pregnant with Shuangshuang, her belly didn't show until almost five months. Auntie was only three months pregnant and her belly was already quite big. Shuangshuang thinks Auntie will definitely give birth to my younger brother and sister at once."

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanshu and Chu Yin exchanged a smile.

Looking at Ye Wanshu's protruding belly, Chu Yin couldn't help but exclaim, "Wanwan, you know what I mean, Shuangshuang is right!"